Chinon: Known for its vineyards and stunning castle, Chinon invites visitors to explore its medieval heart. Renowned for its royal fortress overlooking the town, it offers a journey through French history, notably to the time of Joan of Arc. Wander through the narrow streets and discover the town’s charming wine cellars. Wine enthusiasts will enjoy sampling the local wines, especially the renowned Cabernet Franc, making it a delightful stop during the Tour.
Châteauroux: A historical town with lovely parks, Châteauroux is perfect for a leisurely visit. Visitors are drawn to the town by its rich historical heritage, with the Château Raoul overlooking the Indre River. Take a stroll through the picturesque Parc de Balsan and enjoy its serene atmosphere. Experience the warmth of local hospitality and explore its markets, where you can sample fresh regional produce and artisanal products. It's also an ideal gateway to explore the Berrichonne countryside, local traditions and regional gastronomy.
Centre-Val de Loire Region
Departments : Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret
Population: 2.6 million
Prefecture: Orléans
Surface area: 39,151 km2
Specialities: Loire wines (Bourgueil, Vouvray, Chinon, etc.). Tarte Tatin. Pithiviers. Mara des Bois strawberries. Crottin de Chavignol, Sainte-Maure de Touraine (cheeses), Loire fish (eels, pikes). Potée berrichonne. Montargis pralines. Orléans fruit macaroons. Sologne asparagus. Black truffles from Berry.
Sports clubs: Tours FC, Berrichonne de Châteauroux, US Orléans-Loiret (football), Tango Bourges basket, Tours Métropole Basket, C'Chartres basket, Orléans Loiret Basket. Chartres Métropole Handball.
Competitions: Paris-Nice, Paris-Tours, Route tourangelle (cycling). Ironman 70.3 Tours Métropole. Orléans Masters (badminton). Co'Met Orléans Open (tennis, challenger).
Festivals: Printemps de Bourges, Jazzin' Cheverny, Jazz en Touraine, Chinon en Jazz, Terres du son, Aucard de Tours, Cocorico Electro, la Forêt des Livres, BD Boom, Chartres Organ Festival.
Economy: Centre-Val de Loire is Europe's leading cereal-growing region and France's sixth-largest industrial region. Four nuclear power stations (15 pc of French production). Tourism (châteaux of the Loire valley).
Tourist sites: châteaux of the Loire Valley (Chambord, Amboise, Blois, Chenonceau, Tours, Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, Cheverny, Loches, Le Clos-Lucé, etc.). Chartres Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Cathedrals of Bourges, Orléans and Tours. Jacques-Cœur Palace in Bourges. Beauval Zoo.
Websites and social networks: www.centre-valdeloire.fr, www.valdeloire-france.com
INDRE-ET-LOIRE (37)
Department in the Centre-Val de Loire region
Population: 616,326, spread over 19 cantons and 272 communes.
Prefecture: Tours (Pop: 139,000).
Sub-prefectures: Chinon, Loches.
Specialities: barley sugar from Tours, épine noire, strawberry liqueur, fouace of Touraine, quiche tourangelle, macaroon from Cormery, nougat from Tours. Loire wines (Vouvray, etc.)
Sport: Tours FC (National 3), Touraine Basket Club.
Festivals: Terres du son in Monts / Les Années Joué in Joué-les-Tours / Les Journées du potager in Villandry / Vilitoire in Tours / Horizons Festivalin Saint-Avertin / À Tours de Bulle / Rock in the House.
Tourist
attractions: châteaux of Langeais, Loches, Gizeux, Montpoupon, Amboise (one of the most visited monuments in France), Chenonceau, Montrésor. Caves of Savonnières.
Economy: STMicroelectronics (semiconductor manufacturer), Tours Regional University Hospital, the region's leading employer with around 8,000 staff.
Website: www.touraine.fr
Km 3.5
Léméré (Pop: 415)
Château du Rivau
Construction: 1445
Style: Medieval and Renaissance.
History: fortified in the 15th century, then humanised during the Renaissance. At the heart of the Anglo-French conflicts, it occupies a strategic position above the Vienne and Veude valleys. In the 16th century, the building that enclosed the castle quadrilateral was destroyed. At the same time, the Gothic windows on the west facade of the château were enlarged and decorated with sculptures. In the 18th century, thanks to its wealth of land, it became a "château de rapport", retaining the medieval features of its construction. In the 19th century, the château was used as a wheat storage facility and forgot its former splendour. In 1992, its owners began restoring it, winning several awards.
Characteristics: a fortress on the outside, with its keep, moat, drawbridge (still in use) and sentry walk, the château is also a pleasure castle. As soon as you enter, climb the spiral staircase, where you can decipher the many 15th-century graffiti. The Rivau's vast rooms exude a warm atmosphere: from the Gothic fireplaces to the walls rendered in Tuscan whitewash, from the sumptuous Brussels tapestry to the cushions in front of the mullioned windows, where visitors are invited to sit and contemplate the gardens.
Trivia: the château was renowned for its stables, and Joan of Arc stopped here in 1429 to stock up on horses on her way to the siege of Orléans.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1918. Remarkable garden.
Km 7.1
Champigny-sur-Veude (Pop: 810)
This village was built around its castle, which attracted the wrath of Richelieu and was partly demolished in 1635. The village also boasts the small château de la Pataudière (16th century), listed as a historical monument in 1997.
Champigny-sur-Veude castle
Construction: 16th and 17th centuries.
Style: Renaissance.
History: the castle equalled that of Richelieu, which caused its destruction. It was begun by Louis I de Bourbon and completed by Louis II, first Duke of Montpensier. In 1625, Marie de Bourbon gave it as a dowry to Gaston of Orléans. In 1635, the Duke of Orléans was invited by the Cardinal to exchange Champigny for the seigneury of Bois-le-Vicomte, and the contract stipulated that the château would be demolished subject to easements. Only the chapel escaped destruction, as Pope Urban VIII, who had officiated there, refused his authorisation. In 1656, Gaston of Orléans' daughter obtained restitution of the property. Repairs were carried out on the outbuildings, which were used as the main residence.
Characteristics: the outbuildings, with a few surrounding walls, are the only remains of the château built by Louis de Bourbon. They comprise three angled buildings surrounding the former bailey. The central one is two storeys high, with a raised pavilion in the middle and two cylindrical corner towers with domed roofs and lanterns at either end. The chapel was completed around 1540. The 1549 porch (date inscribed on the inside of the porch) is thought to be contemporary with the surviving buildings in the forecourt (dated 1545 by a keystone in the stables). The chapel's stained-glass windows are an exceptional example of 16th-century stained-glass art.
Special feature: the château's Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel) is one of only seven still standing today. It was built at the same time as the original château and features richly decorated stained-glass windows depicting the history of the second House of Bourbon-Montpensier in relation to the person of King Saint Louis. When the château was still in existence, it was a palatine chapel, as it adjoined the château.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1911 (chapel) and 1945 (château)
Km 12.7
Richelieu (Pop: 1,620)
Built between 1631 and 1642, this new town bears the imprint of its founder and patron, Cardinal de Richelieu, and is a remarkable example of 17th-century town planning. Designed by architect Jacques Lemercier, this "ideal city" is based on a grid layout modelled on Roman cities or medieval bastides. It is built around two squares, Place Royale and Place du Cardinal, and is surrounded by ramparts and monumental gates. Today, it is a prime heritage site, protected by a preservation and enhancement plan since 1997.
Richelieu Enclosure
Construction: 17th century.
Style: classical.
History and features: Cardinal de Richelieu decided to transform the village where he was born into a town, the plans for which were drawn up by the castle's architect, Jacques Lemercier. The town has a regular layout, with moats, a surrounding wall, monumental gates, symmetrical streets and aligned houses. Most of the town wall remains, as do the four monumental gates flanked by pavilions, which control the four roads leading into the town. In 1631, Louis XIII signed the letters patent authorising the building of a town; an analysis of the sources shows that the king paid for the fortifications and the town gates. It is a quadrangular enclosure 300 toises long and 200 toises wide (including the ditches) pierced by three gates: Porte de Paris or Porte de Chinon to the north, Porte de Loudun to the west and Porte du Château or Porte de Châtellerault to the south; three false gates, represented by two pavilions, are located in the east-west street perspective.
Special features: Château de Richelieu was almost entirely demolished. In addition, nine houses built at the same time as the town within the walls are protected as Historical Monuments.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1879.
Km 20.7
Faye-la-Vineuse (Pop: 220)
The main monument in the commune of Faye is the collegiate church of Saint-Georges, a very important religious building in medieval times. It was founded in 1039 by Dame Nivès, Lord of Faye, and altered in the 12th and 19th centuries. The collegiate church was attached to the castle, now destroyed.
Former collegiate church of Saint-Georges
Construction: 12th century.
Style: Romanesque.
History: the current church dates from the 12th century and replaced a modest building founded in 1039 by Nivée, wife of Aymery I of Loudun. It suffered extensive damage during the Wars of Religion (1562 and 1593).
Characteristics: this Romanesque church, which was once surrounded by a cloister and conventual buildings, was poorly restored in the 19th century. It does, however, have some distinctive features. On either side of the triumphal arch, two side passages connect the nave with the first bay of each cross. The two-bay choir and apse are surrounded by an ambulatory into which three radiating chapels open. The 11th-century crypt is also unusual in its large size (15 m x 11 m) and height under vault. It comprises a central nave with two bays surrounded by an ambulatory. The sculpted capitals depict various scenes: the procession of the Magi, the adoration of the Magi, horsemen fighting, etc.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1931.
VIENNE (86)
Population: 431,248
Prefecture: Poitiers
Sub-prefectures: Châtellerault, Montmorillon
Surface area: 6,990 km².
Specialities: Broyé du Poitou, Haut-Poitou melon, black truffle, farci poitevin, Montmorillon macaroons, snails, tourteau fromager, Haut-Poitou wine (AOC)
Sports clubs: Poitou Charentes Futuroscope 86 (women's cycling team), Stade Poitevin Volley Beach (league A), Poitiers Basket 86 (Pro B), TTACC table tennis (Pro A), Motoball Neuville-de-Poitou (1st division), Stade Poitevin Féminin Triathlon (1st division)
Competitions: Poitiers-Futuroscope Marathon, Vienne International Women's Tennis Tournament, Tour Poitou-Charentes (cycling), Poitiers National Athletics Meeting, Montgolfier Hot-Air Balloon Championship.
Festivals: Les Heures Vagabondes (free concerts) / Sanxay Lyrical Evenings/ Au fil du son Festival / Mr Haydn’s Holiday’s Festival / Polychromies in Notre Dame la Grande / Gamers Assembly / Jazzellerault.
Economy: Tourism (Futuroscope, Vallée des Singes, La Roche-Posay thermal spa, Center Parcs, etc.), aeronautics, automotive subcontracting, viticulture/agriculture, food industry.
Notable sites: Saint Savin Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Websites / FB / Twitter: https//www.lavienne86.fr / @departement86 / @ATV86 / https//www.facebook.com/departement86 / https//www.facebook.com/tourismevienne.melusine86 / https//www.dailymotion.com/departement86
Km 42.5
Thuré (Pop: 2,800)
Famous for its tufa quarries, Thuré boasts two listed buildings, Saint-Pierre church, listed in 1910, and Château de la Massardière.
Château de la Massardière
Construction: 15th and 16th centuries.
Characteristics: Once through the fortified gateway, you discover a handsome manor house whose buildings are linked by a gallery built around 1520. The château is set in the corner of a vast estate with a central courtyard bordered by outbuildings. The dwelling is L-shaped. The front facade of this building was preceded in the 16th century by an elegant gallery, composed of four low-arched arcatures resting on octagonal columns. The open-air passageway above it is protected by a solid balustrade decorated with pilasters. The gallery and passageway allow traffic to flow between the tower serving the dwelling and the wing built at right angles to it in the 16th century.
Special feature: you can also admire the dovecote. It was listed as a historical monument in 1932.
Listed as: historical monument in 1932 and 1962.
Km 46.2
Châtellerault (Pop: 31,500)
The town of René Descartes and former Prime Minister Edith Cresson is also home to Sylvain Chavanel and his brother Sébastien. Don't miss the old weapons factory and the beautiful Italian-style Blossac theatre, which was perfectly restored in 2013. Sylvain Chavanel has made his mark on the history of the Tour de France as the race's record holder: 18 consecutive appearances between 2001 and 2018. Six times French time trial champion and once French road champion, he also won three stages of the Tour, one in 2008 and two in 2010, when he held the Yellow Jersey for two days. Twice awarded the Most Aggrissive Rider prize, Sylvain Chavanel has also won the Grand Prix de Plouay, two editions of the Dunkirk Four Days and the De Panne 3 Days, as well as three stages of Paris-Nice. His brother Sébastien, who has taken part in three editions of the Tour (lanterne rouge in 2015), has also won five stages of the Tour de l'Avenir and the 2007 French Cup. Also from Châtellerault are Claude Colette, who took part in five Tours de France between 1953 and 1960, and Thomas Bonnet, a professional with TotalEnergies since 2023. Not forgetting Alfred Brailly, who took part in the 1919 Tour, and Denis Dugouchet, European Masters champion aged 55-60 in 2024. Special mention must go to Émile Georget, born in Bossay-sur-Claise (km 90 of this stage). Third in the Tour de France in 1907 and 1911, "Gros Rouge" (Big Red - his nickname) also won nine stages of the Tour in nine appearances between 1905 and 1914. French road champion in 1910, winner of Bordeaux-Paris in 1910 and 1912 and Paris-Brest-Paris in 1911, he was also the first winner of the Galibier in the Tour de France in 1911. His family settled in Châtellerault (his brother Léon (4 Tours de France) and nephew Pierre were also riders) and ran a Peugeot garage there for three generations until 2007. The family's memorabilia is preserved in the Auto Vélo museum (now the Grand Atelier museum) in Châtellerault.
Henri IV Bridge
Built: 1571-1609
History: the first stone bridge was built in the 12th century. Damaged by flooding and the Hundred Years' War, the bridge was rebuilt in 1564. The bridge was almost destroyed in 1944 by the German army.
Characteristics: The bridge provides access to the town of Châtellerault. Towers were built at each end of the bridge. Round towers on the Châteauneuf side, which still exist, and square towers on the town side, which no longer exist. These towers may have played a role at times in controlling the entrance to the town during periods of epidemics or unrest in the surrounding countryside. The main bridge has nine 9.85-m spans, supported by 4.60-m-thick piers.
Listed as: historical monument in 1913.
Km 57.9
Sénillé-Sain-Sauveur (Pop: 1,720)
The result of the merger of the two communes of Saint-Sauveur and Senillé in 2016.
Saint-Antoine Church
Construction: 14th to 17th centuries.
Style: Flamboyant Gothic.
History: this church, overlooking the village of Saint-Sauveur, was devastated during the Hundred Years' War. It was first repaired at the end of the 14th century and then, thanks to numerous donations, underwent a major renovation campaign in 1493. During the Revolution, the church was sold as national property. It was then exchanged with the parish church of Saint-Sauveur. The church of La Foucaudière then became the new parish church under the names of Saint-Sauveur and Saint-Antoine.
Characteristics: the church was almost completely rebuilt in the flamboyant Gothic style, characterised by the rich decoration of the bays, the bracketed arches and the ribbed ogives (prismatic).
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1910.
Km 66.3
Coussay-les-Bois (pop. 910)
Coussay has a rich heritage for a small village: the church of Notre-Dame has been listed as a historical monument since 1914 due to its perfect state of preservation, and the church of Saint-Martin, with its twisted bell tower, has been listed as a historical monument since 1951. Château de la Vervolière was built by the Du Plessis family, the family of Cardinal de Richelieu.
Château de la Vervolière
Construction: 15th century.
Style: medieval.
History: The château was built at the end of the 15th century and belonged to the Cardinal de Richelieu family. The substructures of an enclosure and towers linking to the main building can be seen. The tower still contains several rooms with fireplaces. A chapel, a stairway pavilion and a gallery (now destroyed) opened onto the inner courtyard and communicated via a small doorway with the vaulted room in the tower. To the right of the entrance to this tower, corbels support defensive machicolations. Opposite is the highly ornate doorway to the staircase.
Listed as: historical monument in 1920.
Km 72.5
La Roche-Posay (Pop: 1,570)
A spa town with an international reputation for treating skin diseases, La Roche-Posay has given its name to a range of cosmetics owned by the L'Oréal group. From its medieval past, the town has preserved its imposing keep, a fortified church (listed in 1907), the remains of its ramparts and a town gate.
La Roche-Posay keep
Construction: 11th to 14th centuries.
Style: medieval.
History: a fortress was built in the 11th or 12th century, of which the current keep was part. In the 14th century, a ring of machicolations was erected at the top of the keep to replace the wooden hoardings.
Characteristics: the keep stands on a square base 14-metres wide, built entirely of tufa stone. Each side has three evenly-spaced buttresses. The keep is 23-m high, with walls 2.5-m thick. It has two barrel-vaulted storeys, one of which offers remarkable acoustics. In the past, two additional storeys provided access to the summit platform.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1942.
INDRE-ET-LOIRE (37)
Department in the Centre-Val de Loire region
Population: 616,326, spread over 19 cantons and 272 communes.
Prefecture: Tours (Pop: 139,000).
Sub-prefectures: Chinon, Loches.
Specialities: barley sugar from Tours, épine noire, strawberry liqueur, fouace of Touraine, quiche tourangelle, macaroon from Cormery, nougat from Tours. Loire wines (Vouvray, etc.)
Sport: Tours FC (National 3), Touraine Basket Club.
Festivals: Terres du son in Monts / Les Années Joué in Joué-les-Tours / Les Journées du potager in Villandry / Vilitoire in Tours / Horizons Festivalin Saint-Avertin / À Tours de Bulle / Rock in the House.
Tourist attractions: châteaux of Langeais, Loches, Gizeux, Montpoupon, Amboise (one of the most visited monuments in France), Chenonceau, Montrésor. Caves of Savonnières.
Economy: STMicroelectronics (semiconductor manufacturer), Tours Regional University Hospital, the region's leading employer with around 8,000 staff.
Website: www.touraine.fr
Km 75.8
Yzeures-sur-Creuse (Pop: 1,345)
The town has many Gallo-Roman remains, including a temple to Minerve to which a museum is dedicated, as well as around fifteen small châteaux and manor houses, including the birthplace of singer Mado Robin (1918-1960), the town's main celebrity along with Agnès Sorel, who legend has it was born in one of its hamlets around 1420.
Minerva Museum Opened: 1972
History: in 1895, the 12th-century church was demolished because it was too dilapidated. While digging the foundations for the new church, around 80 large sculpted blocks came to light. Excavations then began, revealing four types of blocks forming three monuments. One of the three monuments was a votive pillar to Jupiter. The second monument uncovered was a large polygonal building that was probably an octagonal temple. The third monument, an altar, is still poorly known. A dedication to Minerva comes from a sacred building, probably her temple.
Characteristics: the museum houses fifty-two of the blocks discovered during work on the church, plus a sarcophagus lid and basin found more recently.
Listed as: Museum of France. The remains have been listed as Historical Monuments since 1896.
Km 82.4
Boussay (Pop: 230)
The commune has two listed monuments, Saint-Laurent church (13th to 19th century) and Boussay château (15th to 17th century).
Château de Boussay
Construction: 15th, 17th and 19th centuries.
Style: composite.
History and characteristics: it juxtaposes a 15th-century machicolated tower, a 17th-century Mansard wing and an 18th-century wing. The château is privately owned, but the grounds around the building are open to visitors. The first written records of this castle date back to around 1060. It first belonged to the de Payen family, then to the de Menou family, and finally passed to the de Becdelièvre family through marriage. It has never been sold.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1957.
Km 84.5
Preuilly-sur-Claise (Pop: 1,030)
Preuilly has a long history, from Gallo-Roman times to the present-day town on the right bank of the Claise between its two main historical centres, the Benedictine abbey and the feudal castle. In the Middle Ages, Preuilly was the first barony of Touraine and its successive barons played an important regional role, particularly in conflicts between the counts and lords of neighbouring provinces, and during the Hundred Years' War. Agricultural and commercial activity flourished in the 19th century, as evidenced by the fine town houses (notably the present-day Hôtel de Ville) and numerous town houses from this period (1830-1850).
Château du Lion and Poterne Museum
Construction: 14th and 15th centuries.
History: Preuilly was considered to be the first barony of Touraine. In 930, Viscount Atton, the first known lord, built a castle here, known as Château du Lion, which was destroyed in 1130. In the 14th century, the fortress withstood several sieges by the English, who captured and dismantled it. The castle was restored around 1422 by Pierre Frottier, to whom Charles VII entrusted the education of his daughter Jeanne, whom he had with Agnès Sorel. The last repairs were carried out in the early 17th century. From 1650, the barons took up residence in Azay-le-Ferron, permanently abandoning their château at Preuilly. To the south, a barrel-headed feudal gateway is accompanied by a round tower and a small pavilion-covered dwelling that served as the fortress's first defences. A surrounding wall encircles the estate.
Current purpose: the 14th-century postern of the imposing fortress is now home to the Museum of Local History and Folk Traditions, displaying precious archaeological remains and flint tools collected in and around Preuilly. An entire room is dedicated to the beautiful embroidery and lace of Tours. Here, history meets art, and popular traditions take centre stage. Tours are organised throughout the summer.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1927 (chapel) and 1971 (postern).
INDRE (36)
Region: Centre-Val de Loire
Population: 216,809, spread over 13 cantons and 243 communes.
Prefecture: Châteauroux (43,079 inhabitants)
Sub-prefectures: Issoudun, La Châtre and Le Blanc.
Specialities: green lentils of Berry, potato pancake, pyramide de Valençay, pyramide de Pouligny Saint-Pierre (cheese), carp fries. AOC wines from Reuilly and Valençay.
Festivals: DARC Festival (dance), Tour Vibration, Nohant Chopin Festival, Gargilesse Harp Festival.
Tourist attractions: Valençay and Bouges châteaux, Château Raoul, Nohant estate (George Sand), Déols Abbey, Train du Bas-Berry, Bertrand Museum, Jacques Tati Museum, Argentomagus Museum.
Economy: industry (aeronautics, automotive subcontracting), Châteauroux-Centre airport, food industry (Barilla, Mademoiselle Dessert, Laboratoires Fenioux, Axéréal, etc.), specialist SMEs, construction and public works, logistics, leather goods (Louis Vuitton, Rioland), clothing (Balsan).
Sport: La Berrichonne Châteauroux, national shooting centre
Websites: www.indre.fr
Situated in the heart of the Centre-Val de Loire region, the Indre département boasts a remarkable natural and historical heritage. Its landscapes include the famous Brenne lakes, a paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers. This regional nature park, nicknamed the "little Camargue of Berry", is an invitation to contemplate and escape. You can spot the cistude, an emblematic turtle that contributes to the identity of this unspoilt region. The Indre region has been the birthplace of many great historical figures. George Sand, the emblematic writer of the 19th century and a resident of Nohant, drew her inspiration here, immortalising the Berry landscapes in her novels. Talleyrand, an influential diplomat under several regimes, left his mark on Valençay, whose château, a heritage jewel, attracted more than 100,000 visitors in 2024. General Bertrand, Napoleon's loyal companion and a native of Châteauroux, left his mark on the region through iconic sites such as Place Sainte-Hélène and the Bertrand Museum. Indre is bursting with architectural treasures. Déols Abbey, an exceptional medieval vestige of the prestigious Cluniac network, is now in the running to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As for Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, listed as one of France's most beautiful villages, its medieval charm and picturesque little streets are sure to win you over. As host of the shooting events at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Indre stands out for its commitment to sport and its modern infrastructure. The Plaine Départementale des Sports, a complex unique in France, hosts a number of international competitions every year, providing an exceptional setting for athletes and sports fans alike.
Km 96.6
Azay-le-Ferron (Pop: 840)
Famous for its castle. The commune is also home to the Haute-Touche zoological reserve, one of the largest zoos in France (436 hectares) and one of the department's main tourist attractions. It was once part of the Château d'Azay-le-Ferron and now belongs to the National Museum of Natural History, which conducts biotechnology research there and reproduces wild animal species threatened with extinction.
Château d'Azay-le-Ferron
Construction: 15th to 18th centuries.
Style: Renaissance. History: Azay-le-Ferron has been owned by several prominent families, including Grégoire Michel, a banker for Napoleon's armies. In the 19th century, the château was sold as a life annuity to the Luzarche family, a family of ironmasters. In 1951, Madame Hersent, daughter of Madame Luzarche, bequeathed the château and adjoining estate to the town of Tours.
Characteristics: the château comprises four sections built at different times: the Frotier tower (late 15th century), the d'Humières wing (mid 17th century), the Francis I pavilion (16th century) and the Breteuil pavilion (18th century). The outbuildings, known as the Cingé wing, date from the 17th century and are linked to the château by a gallery inspired by the one at Valençay château, built in 1926.
Trivia: Mr Luzarche kept a fine hunting team whose motto was "To the end". One day, while out hunting wolves, the Azay team caught a she-wolf that had just given birth to cubs. One of them was tamed, christened Cacao and took part in the hunt with the pack of hounds. At the age of twelve, he became blind and drowned in one of the park's ponds, and was stuffed as a souvenir.
Special feature: the park, redesigned by the Bühler brothers, famous landscape gardeners, features a multitude of tree species, boxwood parterres and topiaries (pruned yew trees inspired by chessboard pieces), a collection reputed to be among the finest in France.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1950.
Km 108
Saint-Michel-en-Brenne (Pop: 320)
This commune is located on the former hunting grounds of King Dagobert, who donated part of it to create the abbey of Saint-Cyran-en-Brenne. Still occupied by traditionalist nuns, the abbey made headlines in 1989, when gendarmes discovered the belongings of militiaman Paul Touvier, a search that led to his arrest. Another search was carried out in 2021 after a tip-off that Xavier Dupont-de-Ligonès, the murderer of his family, had taken refuge there.
Km 108.6
Mézières-en-Brenne (Pop: 960)
This commune boasts the first listed church in the Indre department.
Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
Built: 1333 to 1339
Style: Gothic.
History: the church was built for Alix de Brabant, cousin of Philip IV the Fair, who wanted it to be her burial place. The second chapel, or Anjou chapel, was founded on the south side by Nicolas d'Anjou-Mézières, grandson of Louis d'Anjou, first Marquis of Mézières, in 1543. In a state of serious disrepair, it was not included by Prosper Mérimée in the first list of historical monuments drawn up in 1840. It was listed 22 years later and work began. Jean-Jacques Grüber, a master stained-glass artist, was commissioned to restore the stained-glass windows to their original lead state and replace the missing parts in 1937.
Characteristics: the 14th-century church had a simple floor plan, with a single nave with no aisles, ending in a three-sided apse, covered with broken barrel vaulting held together by painted beams decorated with coats of arms or picturesque subjects.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1862.
Km 125.9
Buzançais (Pop: 4,430)
This is the birthplace of journalist Michel Denisot (1945), former managing director of Canal Plus and former chairman of Paris Saint-Germain and La Berrichonne de Châteauroux (football).
Km 133.2
Argy (Pop: 570)
Château d'Argy
Construction: 13th to 15th centuries.
Style: Pre-Renaissance, Louis XII and neo-classical.
History: built in the 15th and 16th centuries by Lord Charles de Brillac on the site of a former fortified manor house, the elegant Château d'Argy has preserved its magnificent Renaissance architecture. The splendid, richly decorated Italian-style gallery, the Brillac tower and the high keep are just a few examples.
Characteristics: the château, the 17th-century outbuildings and the 40 hectares of parkland make up a heritage whose unity was restored in 1966 by the Club du Vieux Manoir. Of particular note is the elegant double-level gallery adjoining the keep, with its machicolations and traces of a drawbridge.
Current purpose: the outbuildings house a museum of rural arts and traditions. The Domaine d'Argy is an ideal place for walks and regularly hosts artistic and cultural events, as well as workshops on architecture and flora.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1930
Km 161.5
Déols (Pop: 7,620)
Déols was the scene of a major battle between the Bretons and Visigoths in the 5th century, which was won by the Visigoths. Two fine town gates remain from its medieval past. But the town's history is most marked by the presence of Notre-Dame de Déols abbey, a major Cluniac site on the route to Santiago de Compostela. Today, its proximity to Châteauroux is one of the key factors in its development. In addition to the Marcel-Bloch (Marcel Dassault) factory, which bears witness to its industrial past, Déols boasts a first-rate cultural facility, the Mach 36, which opened in 2007.
Notre-Dame de Déols Abbey
Founded: 971
Style: Romanesque.
Order: Benedictine.
History: the feudal house was founded on the model of the Abbey of Cluny. However, by the 10th century, the relationship with the Cluniacs had disappeared. The abbey was built in several stages up until the 14th century. The abbey was one of the most important of its time, both in terms of its architecture and its influence, with an extraordinary abbey church. Its seven bell towers and remarkable dimensions (113 metres long) attracted the vocations of almost two hundred monks. Despite its power, the Hundred Years' War and then the Wars of Religion brought the abbey to ruin. Partially destroyed in the 16th century by Protestant gangs, it was secularised in 1628 for the Prince de Condé, who transformed it into a stone quarry. This remained the case until the 19th century.
Characteristics: the surviving remains are the bell tower, the fourth bay of the north aisle, the crypt, the south wall of the nave and the connecting door with the cloister, the monks' prison, the chapter house, the square room with its mural heads, the refectory, the kitchen and the other conventual buildings.
Special features: inspired by medieval horticultural treatises, the abbey garden is made up of twelve squares, symbolising the twelve Apostles of the Christian religion. The path to the cloister of the former abbey is borrowed from the medieval imagination and offers a metaphorical representation of Earth in Heaven. Visitors can admire three distinct sections: the Garden of the Simple, with plants used in medieval pharmacopoeia; the Garden of Love, inspired by medieval poetry; and the Celestial Garden, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the symbol of the abbey.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1862.
Marcel-Bloch factory
Built: 1936 to 1939.
History and features: the Marcel Bloch factory in Déols, built between 1936 and 1939, is one of a series of fine aviation factories that began twenty years earlier. The courtyard, monumentalised by porticoes, the volumes inspired by the Bauhaus movement and the interior fittings bear witness to the extreme care with which Marcel Bloch, who later took the name Marcel Dassault, and the architect Georges Hennequin combined their research, in a programme where function and aesthetics are combined down to the smallest detail.
Listed as: historical monument in 1991.
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